Partners in Pewter

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by Adrian & Lesley Doble

Exciting and elegant items of modern pewterware are created in our Cookham Dean studio where we design a range of functional pieces that are made to order or are available off the shelf.  We use our experience to design items that are attractive and strong enough to perform well for many years.  Many of the designs will be realised using the repousse technique which involves transferring a pattern to sheet pewter using hand tools to raise every dot, line and area, before the exposed surface is textured to embellish the piece and produce a coherent whole.

Several of our products are cast.  For this, a model has to be made before a mould can be formed in such a way that the pewter casting will be suitable for subsequent finishing and polishing.  In many cases, the model is made by combining the repousse technique with other modelling methods to provide detail that would be difficult to achieve any other way.

Pewter is a malleable alloy of tin that can be worked without heating.  The ability to almost draw on the sheet allows any design to be used which is particularly useful when a unique bespoke effect is required.  Although suitable subjects include heraldry, nature and architecture, it is the Art Nouveau style that has the greatest affinity with this medium. Pewter melts at a relatively low temperature and we derive great satisfaction by  pushing the properties of the moulds to the limit while making three-dimensional items by casting.

The work of Partners in Pewter has become known in the South of England through exclusive exhibitions, selective craft events, and by word of mouth. It is characterised by the originality of the designs and the high quality of the finish that we achieve.  We have been invited to demonstrate our skills at many events including Art in Action, The Craft & Design Experience, Pewter Live and the Royal Berkshire County Show.  In 2008 Adrian was made a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Pewterers of London in recognition of our contribution to the promotion of pewter.  Our unique Touchmark is recorded at Pewterers’ Hall.

Pieces can be bought via the website which is also used as a current showcase for some of the regular lines, to illustrate the potential of the bespoke service, and to list the venues where we will be appearing.

We produce a wide range of products and small runs of bespoke items to delight individuals, clubs and corporations.  We make fine-art pewterware by design.